Green crop harvester



June 6, 1950 N. c. LOCKE 2,510,704

GREEN CROP HARVESTER Filed Nov. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR MeZ Clocks BY ATTORNEYS June 6, 1950 N. c. LOCKE 2,510,704

GREEN CROP HARVESTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 26, 1946 Counfqrbalance Waugh! INVENTOR Mel C. Locke v- MTml-l ATTORNEYS June 6, 1950 N. c. LOCKE 2,510,704

GREEN CROP HARVESTER Filed Nov. 26, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 i- I INVENTOR M'el CLocke ATTORNEYS Patented June 6, 1950 UNI 'LS'TATES *QF camp HmwEsrER sNileCnLocke, LockefordgOa-lif. Appliestimmveniber 26, 194'6, Se1ialllNofi71'2g'3il1 (crass-28) melaims. 1

This invention is'directeG to, and item ebjeet'tomr'evide, an imprevedrgreen-erophervester fer "use to harvest amps :suh as 'p'eass, :spinach, oatsreteh, etc; the 'i-m ilement being arranged to deliver the wt crap into a receiving muck traveling alongside. 4

hhdtlrer object of the fiznventien 35 ts provi'de a. green crop harvester which is designed so that it runetiens efieetmei t'o eat and recover ero s w'hieh may be "badly tang-led "or weed --=grown, L01 er excessively heavy grew th, esr 'semetimes scours in pea crops, 'for example.

A further object or the invention is torprm'r itle a gre'en erop'h'arvester comprises-a picku reere s'ickle bar assembly nu ah elevatermonvey'or berries by -'a fleeting r header tram-re arranged in novel eombineita'eh with a, wheehsupported "main frame; the floating frame' bemg verticazlly movable, by sewer means, for making turns in the 'or Tor per mrtfting o f atiius'tment-c-f the working levehe'f the implement.

Anmiditiensl amest-crime invention is 1:0 pm- Vid'e a green 'cr'op harvester, as :aabuve, wherein the sickle bar assembly rinemfies a, hdliZO-Htil sink-1e ba-r t and a vertical sickle :ber unit Feit theroutbeerd end fof said first named mniMWherebyte rullyseverthe cut crop, on p'ass 'from laterally adjacelrt, uncut portions whiehfmay be initially "en-tangled therewith.

Itisalso anhbj'ec't to-providemeansrfiar'mi vhrg the pick-up reel,rhorizohtalrsickte bar'runttfiverti cal rsi'ekle b'a'r unit, and. elevater acbm veyer, .'a,t spe eds best *ad zpted fer tithe purposes whlch such parts of the implement 's'erve.

.A further object of the zirwention is to iprovide aipractical, 'efficient, *zmd mugged agrees 'crop h s/rvester, and (me *wh ih will be exeeezfiin-ly iefiective for thepurposei or rcles'rgned.

These objects are "accomplished by imeams "39f suchstructure and relativezagrhaangemerit o'frparts' as will fully appear by z a perusal not the :flolluw mg specification and (claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. '1 is a qrlan view at the imprevefl crop harvester, ipartly wbro-ken away.

:Fig. '2 a fragmentary *slde elevation 20f the vator conveyor spbut.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevatima ref the implement taken from therotherssi'de, illustrating FigJ-S is a"fragm'entary -elevati0-n s'howin'gthe upper oorticm of the elevator conveyor spout, and the drives for the top and bottom tirap'ers therein.

Reterrihg mow more particularly "to the "charaeters -sireferen'ce on 'the drawings; the improved green csrop harvester comprisesa main frame, indie-ates generally alt i ,Whi'eh main frame'ineludes alongitulinallyextending rig-icF'tongue 2 fitted, at its ferwar'd eh'ii, with a vertieaikaxis elevisfi adapted, to be coupled to the transverse hit'chbar 4 62f a' tlaietorj'in'dicatefl in part at 5.

hit its rear end the rigid tongue 2 is fixed in connection with a laterally diagonaling frame barfifi -wh itlvextenilsrearwarflly to "-l i'gia "comrectienwiith tone end portieh of "area-r crcass bar which --crD'ss bevr pro'jects lateral-1y outwardly "tit right-angles t9 the line '01 draft. "Therear -"crbss bar marries spindles at opposite entls, the-outer end spintlle being-strewn at "3, and has apneum2Ztie=tiredwheel jeurmatleel thereon for adjustment-elmgsaiii "spindle. At the oppos'iteend of the rear ems's her? the adjacent spin-file carries dual, .prremnati'c tiredwheels "m. A web H -conmeets :the fiframe "bar 6 and rear'cross bar "I "in rzi'giel reinforced relation.

The above described whe'-isupportec'l main frame ilffihensbupled to 'the tractor 5, trails the latter 'flaJtera21ly 'ou'twarflly hifst relati'on, with thelin'e sf draft, aSShOW-HbY broken line tin Fig 1, passing centrally between the wheels m.

"floating or header frame, indicated generally at Iii-is disposed ahead-er the rearerosshair "l,

eons-trustee "and mounted as follnws:

'EPhe treating *frame 1: includes a "front cross beam B and 'a'rear 'cress" beam 1 4 disposed in par-- 511181, spaced-apart relation, together with transversely spaced, relatively elevated side "bee-101s l5 and M5; .said side sloping f'orwardly downwardly, and projecting *afn'ead "6f the "-frtm t cross :beam 53 to :a. termirxzttien some 'fl-istahce fmrwardly (ef the letter.

At its rear end the floating frame 12 is :fiivdt- :cshnecteiito the rear :cre'ssh'a'r for-upwind dcrwn' :fioetimg 'zmntieh, lay means 0f -a, pair o'f transversely :sprared rigid. arms wvhreh projedt rearwarlly rfmem' the rse-v1 cross-seam H and piveta'lly lshmee'ctetl, "as at with upstanding posts I 9 vertically adjustably secured, asfiat zl' in' c'onnecti'en sai'zi crass her it.

A't-ransvers'ely' sp'acedmatr df longituflinail-ly extendmg @ountenhalanceiarms 22E are pivoted, as at :22, 'rtb the mpper sends 0f posts M, ss-id arms 21 rprojealfiing a shont distance enema e? such posts, and there being connected with an upstanding back wall 23 of the floating frame l2 by means of pivotally connected links 24.

Counterbalancing weights are applied to the arms 2| rearwardly of the posts l9 whereby to counterbalance the floating frame l2 and the hereinafter described working parts carried thereby.

The floating frame I2 is supported from the ground, adjacent its forward end and between the side beams I6 and the rigid tongue 2, by the following arrangement:

A rigid gooseneck 25 is fixed in connection with the floating frame and projects forwardly, and. the vertical spindle 26 of a caster wheel unit 21 is vertically adjustably journaled, in the forward end of said gooseneck, by means including top and bottom adjustment collars 28. The working level of the implement lengthwise thereof is initially set by adjustment of the collars 28, whereas the horizontal working level of the implement is predetermined by the adjustable mounts 20.

In addition, frame I2 is supported by shoes 3 pivotally hung from beam I3, and which are provided with adjustment devices D. When the desired working level of the floating frame has been determined, the shoes are adjusted accordingly. This stabilizes the action of the sickle and header which are mounted on said frame as later descsibed.

The working parts of the implement, as carried by the floating frame, comprise the following:

A pick-11p reel, indicated generally at 29, is journaled in connection with, and extends between, the forward ends of the side beams l and I6 ahead of the front beam l3; said pick-up reel 29 including a center shaft 39. The pick-up reel 29 is of a generally conventional type, except that multiple-rod pick-up finger units, indicated generally at 3|, are employed instead of the usual single-rod pick-up finger units between.

corresponding pairs of the radial arms of the reel. This increases the effectiveness of the reel, as it greatly multiplies the number of pick-up fingers in operation.

From its outboard end, the center shaft 39 of the pick-up reel is driven through a friction clutch 32 by an endless chain and sprocket unit 33 which leads rearwardly to a transverse countershaft 34. The provision of the friction clutch enables the reel to stop or slow down, when encountering foreign material, without shock or vibration; The countershaft 34 extends laterally inwardly toward the center of the implement, and is there driven by a rearwardly extending endless chain and sprocket unit 35 connected to a cross shaft 35 journaled in connection with the rear cross bar I. A change-speed transmission .31 is interposed in the cross shaft 36; the latter being driven at the adjacent end from the dual wheels H) by an endless chain and sprocket unit 38.

Directly to the rear of the pick-up reel 29 the floating frame I2 is fitted, adjacent and front of the front cross beam l3, with a horizontal, transversely extending sickle bar unit 39. This horizontal sickle bar unit 39 is driven in the following manner:

A drive shaft assembly, indicated generally at 40, and including suitable universal connections 4| therein, leads from the power take-off shaft 42 on the tractor lu'rearwardly to the rear cross beam l4 adjacent the inner end of the latter,

where said drive shaft assembly 49 is coupled, in driving relation, to an endless chain and sprocket unit 43. The drive shaft assembly 40 includes, adjacent the tractor, a safety clutch 44.

The endless chain and sprocket unit 43 drives a countershaft 45, which carries a pitman 46 on a longitudinal horizontal axis. A connecting rod 41 couples the pitman 46 to the adjacent end of a horizontally swingable, motion-transmitting lever 48 pivoted, intermediate its ends, as at 49, on the floating frame for swinging in a horizontal transverse plane. The forward end of the motion-transmitting lever 48 is pivoted, as at 50, to one end of the horizontal sickle bar unit 39. In the above manner said horizontal sickle bar unit 39 is driven from the power take-off shaft 42 of the tractor.

An elongated spout 5| is hinged at its lower end in connection with the floating frame l2 adjacent the side beam l6, and thence extends at an upward and laterally outward incline in a direction overhanging the frame bar 6, said spout being adjustable, as to its angle of inclination, by means of a cable system 52 leading from a Windlass 53 mounted on an upstanding post unit 54 on the floating frame; said Windlass including a hand wheel 55 and a suitable latch (not shown).

The spout 5| carries an endless elevator conveyor therein, which conveyor includes an endless bottom draper 55 which extends downwardly in the spout 5| and thence turns about suitable guide means and extends laterally across the floating frame l2 behind the horizontal sickle bar unit 39 as a horizontal run 51. As the horizontal run 51 is an intergral part of the bottom draper 56, back feeding is minimized between said run and the remainder of the elevator conveyor. The bottom draper 56 is suitably crosscleated to assure of positive feeding. The elevator conveyor of the implement also includes an endless top draper 58, likewise cross-cleated and running in the spout 5| in spaced relation above the inclined portion of the bottom draper 56. The top draper 58 assures of positive feeding within the spout 5|, and prevents any retraction of the cut crop as it is fed through said spout.

The spout 5| is open, at its upper end. as at 59, for discharge of the cut crop from the cooperating drapers 56 and 58 into the open body of a truck traveling along the implement.

The endless drapers 5B and 58 are simultaneously driven in proper directions from the countershaft 45 in the following manner:

A relatively long endless chain and sprocket unit 60 is connected between said countershaft 45 and the top cross shaft 6| of the top draper 58 in actuating relation to the latter. A reversing endless chain and sprocket unit 62 connects between the top cross shaft 6| of the draper 58 and the top cross shaft 63 of the bottom draper 56. In this manner the elevator conveyor within the spout l is actuated from the power take-01f V shaft 42 of the tractor simultaneously with the power drive of the horizontal sickle bar unit 39'.

A vertical sickle bar unit 64 is mounted in forwardly facing position at the outboard end of the horizontal sickle bar unit 39, and is suitably supported in connection with the floating frame. This vertical sickle bar unit 64 is actuated by a pitman 65 driven by an endless chain and sprocket unit 66 fromv the wheel drive countershaft 34. Unit 66 includes a safety clutch C toprotect the sickle from damage by contact with foreign material. The pitman 65 is disposed above and to the rear of the vertical sickle bar unit 64 on a horizontal transverse axis, and the driving connections between said parts comprise:

A connecting rod 61 is secured to the pitman 65 and leads forwardly to one leg of bellcrank 53; the other leg being secured in operative relation to the upper end of the movable portion of the vertical sickle bar unit 64.

In order to raise the floating frame l2 to clear the working parts thereon from the ground when it is desired to make turns in the field, or for the purpose of effecting manual adjustment of the caster wheel 27, the following mechanism is employed.

A longitudinally extending fluid pressure actuated power cylinder 69 is mounted in connection with, and extends along, the rigid tongue 2; the piston rod 79 of said cylinder being secured to a cabie it, which leads about direction-changing sheaves l2 and thence depends to connection, as at 73, with the floating frame [2. The piston rod 78 is normally advanced, but when the cylinder 69 is actuated to retract said rod, the cable 74 is pulled in a direction to raise the floating frame l2, together with the working parts carried thereon. The power cylinder 69 is controlled by the tractor operator through the medium of a valved fluid pressure system (not shown).

In operation of the described implement, the floating frame i2 is first adjusted to a selected working level in the manner previously described, and thereafter said frame may float as it traverses uneven ground; the caster wheel 2'! and shoes S supporting the floating frame at its forward end, while its rearward end is pivotally mounted and counterbalanced, as described.

As the implement advances in the field, the pick-up reel 29 works to engage, pick up, and deliver the crop to the horizontal sickle bar unit 39, whence the cut crop falls onto the horizontal run 57 of the endless conveyor.

At the outboard end of the sickle bar unit 38, which runs adjacent the uncut portion of the crop, the vertical sickle bar unit 64 functions to sever the cut crop from the uncut. This is advantageous because of the fact that between the cut and uncut portions of the drop there is usually a relatively heavy entanglement. If it were not for the vertical sickle bar unit 64, difficulties would be encountered, as a clean severance would not be accomplished.

As delivered to the horizontal run 51 of the endless conveyor, the cut crop travels transversely and enters the spout 5|, whence it is elevated by the drapers 5B and 58 for delivery out of the open upper end of said spout and into the truck which is traveling alongside.

The change-speed transmission 31 makes possible the actuation of the pick-up reel 29 and the vertical sickle bar unit 64 at the same but selective speeds, depending on working conditions. Under certain working conditions it is desirable that the pick-up reel 29 and. the vertical sickle bar unit 64 travel relatively slow, while under other conditions faster operation is desirable. With the arrangement described, this variance in speed may be accomplished without in any way affecting the drive of the horizontal sickle bar unit 39 and the drapers 56 and 58, as these latter working parts are power driven from the take-off shaft d2 of the tractor.

The described green crop harvester functions effectively and economically in connection with the harvesting of green crops or the like, and it is designed so that it may work in crops which are heavily overgrown or entangled downed by Wind, or badly weed grown.

Further, the construction of the harvester is rugged, and it will provide long service with a minimum of maintenance or repair.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as will fulfill the objects of the invention as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

I-Iavlng thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. In a harvester which includes a main wheel supported frame, a floating frame, transversely spaced upstanding posts fixed on the main frame, transversely spaced arms rigid with the floating frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, means pivotally connecting the outer ends of said rigid arms with the posts adjacent the lower ends of the latter, transversely spaced counterbalance arms pivoted intermediate their ends to the posts above said rigid arms, links pivoted to the forward ends of the counterbalance arms and to the floating frame at points above said rigid arms, and a crop cutting and conveying m chanism carried on the floating frame.

2. A combination as in claim 1 including adjustment elements between the posts and main frame for vertically adjusting the posts relative to the main frame.

3. A combination as in claim 1, including a goose neck rigid with and projecting from the side of the floating frame opposite that side from which the rigid arms project, a caster wheel, and a vertical spindle on the caster wheel journaled in the outer end of the goose neck.

4. A combination as in claim 3 including adjustment elements between the goose neck and spindle for adjusting the goose neck vertically along the spindle.

NJEL C. LOOKE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,294,675 Kiner Feb. 18, 1919 1,917,352 Apel July 11, 1933 1,954,629 Kettenbach et al. Apr. 10, 1934 1,960,596 Rimple May 29, 1934 2,147,267 Pierson Feb. 14, 1939 2,284,517 Fink May 26, 1942 2,310,387 Blair et a1. Feb. 9, 1943 2,388,861 McCann Nov. 13, 1945 

